New Law Requires National Grid, Utility Companies To Fix Roads

Under a new law, utility companies like National Grid will be required to completely repair roads they tear up for underground construction. The Rhode Island Utility Fair Share Roadway Repair Act was brought to the General Assembly by two Democratic lawmakers from Warwick and signed into law by Governor Gina Raimondo.

"Rhode Island roads have become a tapestry of potholes and patch jobs," said Representative Jospeh McNamara, the chairman of the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee. "Too often, when a utility company tears up a road to do underground work, they repair the area with a shoddy patch job. These patchwork roads can have a profound effect on automobile maintenance and at times even be dangerous to drivers."

In March, the Providence City Council passed a resolution calling for an end of all utility work by National Grid until the company repaid more than $50,000 in outstanding fines to the city.

Under the new law, all utility companies will be required to repave and repair roadways "to the satisfaction" of town or city officials.

"The law also provides a system to make certain that utility companies are complying with the law," said Senator Michael McCaffrey. "If it’s determined that the job was not done — or was not done satisfactorily — then the public utility administrator would charge an amount for reparation or repaving of the road. We want to hold public utilities accountable when they start tearing up public roads."